October 10, 2008

I'm Sorry

Tonight at sundown the Jewish holy day of Yon Kippur came to a close. Though I am not Jewish, nor even religious, I find other people's sacred beliefs fascinating and often very moving. My blog friend Sher at wrekehavoc.com used her blog to offer up apologies for wrongs or shortcomings, which is one of the things Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is all about.

I told Sher that maybe I could use her example as a learning tool for my children. I was half right; I offered myself up as a tool, all right.

ME, after a simple explanation of the meaning of the day for Jews: "Tonight, instead of saying our 'I'm Thankfuls' [our version of grace] I thought we could go around the table and each of us say something we're sorry for. I'll start. "

[I'm sorry I ever started down this path in the first place.]

ME: "I'm sorry that I get mad at you girls quickly, before listening. I should listen more. I'm sorry."

CHAS: "I was going to say about the same thing: I'm sorry that I lose my temper too easily."

SMEDLEY, AGE 7: "I'm sorry that I'm mean to you in the morning, Mama. I'm sorry."

SPARKY, AGE 5: "I hope I don't toot any more."

Sher, I'm sorry. I hope your Yom Kippur was meaningful, and that you'll understand I had the best intentions. And that I fed Sparky to the coyotes right after dinner. I'm sorry.

It's the thought that counts, right? My 5 yo is a kiss up so I am sure it would be something along the lines of I'm sorry that I didn't pick up my toys the first five times and from now on I wil pick them up the first time becuas I lov eyou SO much blah bla blah

heh! you know, you made a great start :-) i, for one, know i'll be sorry next year for spending yom kippur on Toy Story Mania at disneyworld when i should have been in synagogue. i have spent a few yom kippur holidays in weird places, thanks to my recovering catholic spouse's planning (one year, i fasted in a ballpark in cleveland.)